Ladi Anzaki Olubumni, a Nigerian TikTok content moderator, was found dead in her Nairobi apartment after being denied leave for work-related reasons. Protests have erupted from her colleagues at Teleperformance, accusing the company of neglecting employee welfare and creating a toxic work environment. This incident highlights significant issues regarding labor conditions in Kenya’s tech industry.
Protests have erupted following the tragic death of Ladi Anzaki Olubumni, a Nigerian TikTok content moderator found dead in her Nairobi apartment on March 7. After missing work for three days, her colleagues became concerned and discovered her remains. Olubumni relocated to Kenya in 2022 to work for Teleperformance, a major outsourcing company associated with TikTok, and had reportedly not seen her family since her move.
Despite being entitled to an annual return ticket, Olubumni’s requests for leave were denied by her company. Her colleagues alleged that she experienced a toxic work environment and a lack of basic support, including work permits, which further restricted her ability to travel home. “We are blaming Teleperformance because they denied her leave days and a work permit, so she couldn’t go home,” shared a colleague anonymously.
This devastating incident highlights growing concerns over the treatment of workers in Kenya’s thriving tech sector. As Olubumni’s death has sparked outrage, her coworkers have initiated strikes, protesting against what they describe as exploitative conditions and poor management oversight. Critics argue that Teleperformance did not conduct a welfare check when she missed work, demonstrating negligence towards employee well-being.
The case has also resonated with broader discussions about the pressures faced by content moderators within the tech industry. Prominent Kenyan content moderator Mophat Okinyi, known for his role in developing ChatGPT, confirmed the situation and expressed the urgent need for improvements in workplace protections. Okinyi stated, “We’re doing a vigil in Nairobi for the deceased today,” highlighting the community’s solidarity in advocating for better conditions.
Teleperformance has yet to issue an official statement concerning the incident, but the implications of this tragedy emphasize the critical need for scrutiny within the fast-expanding Kenyan tech landscape, particularly regarding worker welfare and safety. This event also draws parallels to other fatalities in the tech sector, indicating a troubling trend in the industry’s treatment of its workforce.
The death of Ladi Anzaki Olubumni has ignited severe backlash against Teleperformance, emphasizing the pressing need for improved labor conditions within Kenya’s tech sector. The incident exposes systemic issues such as lack of support for content moderators and raises significant questions about workplace culture and employee welfare. As protests continue, there is a critical call for accountability and reform to ensure better protections for all workers in this burgeoning industry.
Original Source: www.citizen.digital
